Chapter 39 Stengel represents his next step

the third part Stengel represents his next step "Well," said Keating, "I'm not sure I can invite her to lunch, but she's going to see Mawson's with me the day after tomorrow. What do you think we can do?" He was sitting on the floor, with his head on the edge of the couch, his feet stretched out, and he was wearing Franken's bright yellow-green pajamas, which looked very loose on him. Through the open door of the bathroom, he saw Franken standing at the sink brushing his teeth, belly pressed against the shiny edge. "That's great." Franken chewed hard on the thick foam of the toothpaste and said, "That's fine too. Don't you understand?"

"yes." "My God! Peter, I explained it to you yesterday before I left. Mr. Dunlop plans to build a house for his wife." "Oh, yes," said Keating feebly, brushing the matted black curls from his cheeks with his hands, "oh, yes . . . now that I remember . . . How unreasonable!" He vaguely recalled the scene when Franken took him to a party the night before, the delicious food served in a hollowed out iceberg, the black lace evening dress and Mrs. Dunlop's beautiful face, but He couldn't remember how he ended up in Franken's apartment.He shrugged.He had accompanied Franken to many parties over the past year, and was often brought to his apartment as he was today.

"That house is not big." Franken said with a toothbrush in his mouth.The toothbrush propped up a blister on his cheek, the green handle sticking out. "Around fifty thousand, that's my understanding. It's a piece of cake anyway. But Mrs. Dunlop's brother-in-law—that's Quimby—you know, is a big guy in the real estate business. Nothing serious, nothing serious at all. Then you'll know what that mission is for, and can I count on you, Peter?" "Of course," said Keating, hanging his head. "You can always count on me, Guy..." Sitting motionless, with eyes fixed on his toes, he thought of Franken designer Stengel.It wasn't that he thought about it intentionally, but as usual, he couldn't help but think of Stern Gore, because Sten Gore represented his next plan.

In the face of friendship, Stengel is like an impenetrable fortress.For two years, Keating's attempts to establish a friendship with him have all been shattered on his two iceberg-like lenses.Stengel's prejudice against him spread quietly in the drafting room, but few dared to quote him.Stengel said it aloud, though he knew that the sketches he had brought back from Franken's office, revised by Gidding's hand, were correct.But Stengel also has a handle in Keating's hands: he plans to leave Franken to open his own design institute, and has been designing for a long time.He had already chosen a partner, a young architect without much talent, but with a considerable inheritance.Stengel is ready for everything, the only thing he needs is the east wind, and he just waits for the time to come.Keating really put a lot of thought into this matter.Other than that, he couldn't think about anything else.Sitting on the floor of Franken's bedroom, he thought about it again.

Two days later, he accompanied Mrs. Dunlop through the art gallery, admiring Frederick Mawson's paintings.His movements are pre-planned.He led her through the sparse crowd, and every time he held her elbow with his fingers, he deliberately let her catch his eyes inadvertently—let her discover that it was her young face instead of the paintings that stood around his sight. As Mrs. Dunlop gazed at a landscape that looked like a truck-loading yard, Keating said, trying to put on an expression of admiration on her face, "Yes, a very nice piece of work. Look at the work." The colors of the sack, Mrs. Dunlop... Some say that Mawson guy has suffered a lot. It's a long story - trying to be recognized, old and sad. That's what all artists have in common, including ours Inside."

"Oh, really?" said Mrs. Dunlop, who seemed to prefer architecture at the moment. "Look at this one again." Keating stopped in front of another painting.The painting depicts an old ugly woman scolding her bare feet on the street curb. "This is a work that records social reality. It takes courage to appreciate it," he said. "It's fantastic," Mrs Dunlop said. "Ah, yes, it takes courage. That's a rare quality... I'm told Mawson was starving to death in a garret when Mrs. Stuyvesant found him. Helping a young wit succeed is a It's an honor."

"That must be remarkable," said Mrs. Dunlop. "If I had the money," said Keating, looking thoughtful, "I'd arrange a show for some new artist, finance some new pianist, hire a fledgling The architect of my house built me ​​a house..." "Mr. Gidding, do you know? My husband and I are planning to build a cottage on Long Island." "Oh, is it? Mrs. Dunlop, you are very sweet to tell me such news. You are so young, let me say it. Don't you know that you are taking risks? I will become a nuisance Haunting you all day, trying to get you interested in our company. Or, you've chosen a designer—then you're safe."

"No, I'm not safe at all," said Mrs. Dunlop charmingly, "and I don't really care about the danger. I've been thinking a lot about Franken-Heye Design Institute for the last few days, and I I also heard that their designers are really good.” "Well, thank you, then, Mrs. Dunlop." "Mr. Franken is a great architect." "Oh, yes." "Is there anything wrong?" "Nothing, really nothing." "No, what's going on?" "You really want me to talk?" "Well, of course."